Creating Pinterest pins is the first impression your audience will have. Learn to create pins that attract and compel users to click and visit your product or page.

1. Design Perfect
Pinterest Design Tips to
Create Perfect Pins

2. Check that you are using a 2:3
ratio for your Pinterest sizing. This
is 1000 x 1500 px or 900 x 600 px,
for example. If you don’t use a 2:3
ratio, your image might get
truncated.
The Basics

3. Go to Pinterest and be a “regular
user” looking through the feed for
pins that pop out and catch your eye.
Save those pins to a secret board.
Analyze why these pins are attractive,
eye-catching, and worth stopping to
look at. Take note of this for your own
pin strategy.
Be a
Pinterest Spy

4. Use high-quality images that stand out and
coordinate with the theme of your post. Use
images that speak to your audience.
Pinterest says the best photos are ones
showing someone using your product or
idea. While not everyone has time to take
their own photos, that’s also an option. Use
websites such as Kaboompics, Unsplash,
Ivory Mix, and Pexels. See my post on stock
images to find more places to source your
images.
Stock Photos

5. Design
Design by Numbers
Use the Rule of Thirds in your
designs. Break up your space
into 3’s by using a grid (you can
do this in most design
programs) and then use the grid
as a guide for placement.
Rules
After breaking up the
space into 3’s, decide
what’s most important.
Your most important
text or image will take
up 2/3rd of the space.
The less prominent text
or image will take up
the rest.
Decide What’s Important
The Golden Ratio
Use the Golden Ratio to decide hierarchy in
your text. Take your biggest text size and
divide it by 1.6. For instance, if your heading is
104 in size, then you could use smaller text in
size 65, 41, 25, and 16. You can also multiply
the heading number by 1.6 if you need to go
higher and keep the hierarchy consistent.

6. Branding
When creating pins, you need to keep in mind your
own brand. Even if you are just starting up, you don’t
want to use inconsistent colors, fonts, and styles. It’s
best to keep to a color palette, a few fonts or a font
combination, and a consistent logo and style.
Here’s an example of my branding that I keep
consistent. I use the same fonts, colors, and imagery
throughout my social media, website, and materials.
Branding

7. Alignment &
Text Alignment Spacing
Give your text space to
breath at the top, bottom,
and sides. Your text can
get cut off if it is too close
to any of the edges.
Also check the LEADING
or spacing between lines
of text so it’s not too close
together or too far apart.
If you plan on centering
your header text, keep the
rest of your text
consistent. Whether you
use right, left, or center
alignment, keep it
uniform instead of
jumping around with
different ones.
Spacing
Source: Graphic Design Institute
Notice in this example that the
text is taking up the top 2/3
space while the photo, which
is less important sits in 1/3 of
the space. The text has
breathing room; however the
hierarchy could use a bit of
help.

8. POPS OF
There are various ways to
add contrast, color, and
make your text stand out
Add shapes behind your text
to make your text pop
forward
Use a color overlay to make
your text pop. Contrast
works well such as a dark
color with a light color to
bring the text forward. (The
only thing I’d change on this
is the way they used the text
hierarchy)
Use color behind text like
this, or you can also
underline words to make
them stand out. Adding
arrows, doodles, and other
illustrations can also make
your pin image pop. Use
these wisely though. Too
many graphics can be
distracting. When creating
pins, simple is best.
Color

9. Call to Action
When creating pins, Pinterest suggests using your logo.
This works well for established businesses and well-
known websites, but for smaller operations, you might
want to stick with your website address instead of a
logo until you become famous (ha!).
In addition, you could also add in a call-to-action (CTA)
which is a direction you want the viewer to take. This
could be “Learn more at (website)” or “Get the free
download”. This isn’t necessary, but might help in
getting people to your website landing page.
CTA CTA & Website Link

10. Design StepsJust for you
1. Set up 2:3 ratio
using your design
program and split
the space into 3 parts
equally. I’m choosing
horizontal for this
one.
2. Decide what’s most
important: the image (is it
stand-alone and tells a
story?) or the text. Place
your most important part
in 2/3 of the space either
on the top or bottom.
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
Text goes here
3. Figure out the hierarchy
using the golden ratio (1.6).
Choose the most
important text (header)
and then divide by 1.6 to
get the sizes for the
smaller text. Add a clear,
eye-catching stock photo.
4. Add pops of color,
contrast, and align text
consistently. Also add a call
to action and a logo or
website. Save your
Pinterest image with
keywords and SEO (hint:
use the Pinterest search to
find keywords!)

11. Hi there !
Design is my jam
I hope you enjoyed this resource and it’s helped you get a
head start to your Pinterest strategy.
I’m Michelle Buck and I’m a graphic designer, digital
strategist, and lover of copy. I help bloggers and brands
simplify their Pinterest game by teaching them design
skills and how to make “happy pins”. I teach you
productive ways to design so you aren’t sitting at a
computer all day wasting precious time. You can find me
at Happy Pin Designs or on Pinterest.

12. Happypindesing.com